Jeremiah 18:1-4 – The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. (KJV)

Shortly after I came to know the Lord as my personal Saviour, I was going through an extremely difficult period in my life. The pot that was my life had been formed and fired, but it had imperfections that had to be corrected. It was then that I wrote "My Trip Back To The Potter's House".

Dear Diary,

The Lord has spoken to me and told me to "arise and go down to the Potter's house." Notice that He said "down". Mountaintops are up, victories are up, but the road to the Potter's house is always down.

I really don't want to go, and I don't even know if I can. Remember, Diary, the first time that I had some surgery done on me, back at the Potter's house, I went without hesitating. Now, I'm already dying inside, for I know what is in store for me, down at the Potter's house. At that place, construction goes on.

The Potter has cut me before, but now it would truly begin to hurt, because the deeper he cuts and grinds, the more it hurts. It's like a splinter, Diary: if it's only in the top layer of skin, then there is no problem, but the deeper it is, the more pain is inflicted to have it removed.

Hard callous scales are ground off and chipped away. Spirits are crushed, and hearts are broken. No, I can't bear any more. Already, I feel in my heart that I will refuse to go.

The invitation is for me to "arise and go". It's my choice. I don't have to worry; God won't physically carry me down there. He won't force me to go, kicking and screaming. The choice is mine.

Now, what are my alternatives? I can turn back, run, just forget it all, and admit that I wasn't cut out for this type of work. Or I can stay right where I'm at. After all, I'm not totally useless to the Lord.

Luke 9:62 keeps going through my mind, where Jesus says, "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (KJV) I know that if I just stay the same, I will become stagnant, like water that is drawn and left uncared for. If I choose to remain the same, it will be the same thing as saying, "Forget it all and turn back", for in time, that is exactly what will happen.

Dear Diary,

I am at the Potter's house now. The journey down here was almost as difficult as having the Potter actually do the grinding. But as the cutting goes on and the Potter shapes me as His vessel, He holds me even more tightly inside, and He says, "Oh my, how I love you!"

The Potter isn't finished with me yet, for this is extremely intricate work, and my Father knows only perfection. Praise God! He is a good God, a faithful God, a God that we can trust. We need not fear His plans for us.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for the opportunities, however difficult they may be, to be conformed to Your image. May it be our desire to be pliable in Your hands. We love You, Lord. In Your name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Cheryl Mariano (Cheremiah) <cherylmariano@gmail.com>
Casa Grande, Arizona, USA
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